German healthcare spending soars:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Germany spent a total of DM 107.5 billion on medical aids, implants, dental replacements, blood products and pharmaceuticals in 1998, an increase of 4.4% over 1996. A further DM 106.7 billion was spent on treatments by medical staff. An estimated DM 5,030 per capita of the population, up DM 70 since 1996. Expenditure within the inpatient sector rose by 3.5% and within the outpatient sector by 2% during this period. Germany has seen an increase of 28.7% in spending within the healthcare sector since 1992. The total expenditure within in the sector in 1998 was DM 412.7 billion, equivalent to 10.9% of GDP.